What is a panic attack?

References Fisher, J. (2024, May 24). Panic attacks: Recognizing and managing panic attacks and preventing future attacks. Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School. Retrieved April 12, 2026, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/panic-attacks-recognizing-and-managing-panic-attacks-and-preventing-future-attacks#:~:text=Cognitive%20behavioral%20therapy%20%28CBT%29.,to%20cope%20during%20an%20attack Healthwise Staff. (2022, October 20). Panic Disorder: Should I Take Medicine? Health LInk BC. Retrieved April 12, 2026, from https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthwise/panic-disorder-should-i-take-medicine Li, P., & Stamatakis, J. (n.d.). What happens in the brain when we experience a panic attack? In Birth of a brain. n-we-experience/#:~:text=When%20people%20feel%20stressed%2C%20their,in%20extreme%20cases%2C%20panic.%E2%80%9D (Excerpted from Ask the Brains, 2011, July, 22[3], 70) Mayo Clinic Staff. (2026, March 14). Panic attacks and panic disorder. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/panic-attacks/symptoms-causes/syc-20376021 TED-Ed. (2020, October 8). What causes panic attacks, and how can you prevent them? - cindy J. aaronson [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzFObkVRSV0 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2025). Panic Disorder: What You Need to Know. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms Victoria Government Department of Health. (n.d.). Panic attack. Better Health Channel. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/panic-attack